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The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the NEET eligibility criteria 2026 for medical aspirants in the information bulletin. The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria include the minimum requirements a candidate must fulfil to appear in the exam. The eligibility for NEET exam includes minimum age, educational qualification in class 12, and nationality.
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NEET exam is conducted for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BSc nursing, and other medical courses. The NEET exam eligibility 2026 specifies the mandatory educational qualifications, age limits, nationality requirements, and other key factors that determine eligibility for exam. Only such candidates who fulfil the eligibility as set by the NTA can fill out the NEET application form 2026. Read the full article to know comprehensive details about the NEET eligibility criteria 2026.
The NTA will release the eligibility criteria in the information bulletin of NEET 2026. Aspirants who fulfil the eligibility criteria can complete the application process and are eligible to appear for the undergraduate medical entrance test. The basic eligibility criteria for appearing in the NEET UG exam are as follows:
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As per the NEET exam age limit, a candidate should be a minimum of 17 years of age at the time of admission or by December 31, 2026 to be eligible for NEET 2026. There is no upper age limit in the NEET exam. Any candidate of any age can appear for the NEET 2026, considering he/she is a minimum of 17 years old.
According to the NEET eligibility criteria 2026, a candidate must have passed class 12th to be eligible for NEET 2026 exam by the date of admission. Candidates should have passed class 12 or equivalent by securing the minimum percentage as set by the NTA with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
The 12th percentage required for NEET 2026 is separate for each category. The percentage required for NEET for the general category is 50%, 40% for the SC/ST/OBC category, and 40% for PwBD candidates.
Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and foreign nationals are eligible to appear in the exam. The eligibility criteria based on the citizenship of candidate is provided below.
Candidates who have completed their education from outside the country must fulfil the NEET eligibility criteria. The last examination that NRI/Foreign students should be equivalent to Class 12 qualification in their respective country. Candidates should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and must have passed the theory and practical test in each of these subjects as well as English in the qualifying examination.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical /Dental Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as the case may be.
NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates have to upload a certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of their claim as an NRI/OCI Candidate, along with their online NEET UG 2026 application form.
Similarly, a foreign applicant for NEET 2026 shall also upload Documentary Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid passport or a Certificate from the Competent Authority in the country of his/her nationality regarding his/her citizenship status) in support of his/her Nationality, along with online NEET application form.
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According to the NEET eligibility criteria, the percentage required to appear in the NEET exam varies according to the category of the candidates. Check the category-wise minimum marks required to appear in the NEET exam based on the NEET 2026 eligbility criteria in the table below.
Minimum Percentage Required for NEET (Eligibility in Class 12)
Category | Minimum Percentage Required |
General (UR) | 50% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
OBC | 40% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
SC | 40% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
ST | 40% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
PwD (General) | 40% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
PwD (OBC/SC/ST) | 40% in Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
With amendments in 2018 for NEET UG eligibility criteria, the restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET were removed. Therefore there is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET 2026. So, as per the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates are allowed to appear for the entrance exam as many times as they would like to, only if they are eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The age limit for NEET 2026 is the candidate should be 17 years old on the date of admission. There is no upper age limit for NEET 2026.
Candidates from general category must secure at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology, while the SC/ ST/ OBC students should have scored a minimum 40% marks. For PwD candidates, the required percentage in 12th is 45%.
There is no attempt limit in NEET UG exam. With amendments in 2018 for NEET eligibility criteria, the restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET were removed.
The National Testing Agency is the competent authority to specify the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria for all medical aspiring candidates.
Yes, candidates with a gap year is eligible for NEET 2026. Earlier, MCI made amendments to the “Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997” in which it was specified that a student must undergo continuous two years of study to become eligible to take NEET. However, this amendment was removed by the Delhi High Court and candidates with gap years can appear for NEET 2026 for now. The latest information brochure of NEET also specifies the same.
On Question asked by student community
Yes, it is an entrance exam. Please register at http://www.upvetuniv.edu.in/ .
Prospectus can be found at https://upvetuniv.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Prospectus-2026-27Final.pdf
You can check the NEET PYQs by Careers360 for previosu years' question papers.
Yes, You can change the date of birth in the NEET registration correction window.
To know what are the details can be corrected in the submitted NEET application form, Click here .
If your father’s name appears differently in your Class 10 marksheet compared to other documents, you should not upload an affidavit during the initial
NEET
application unless the form specifically asks for it.
Fill the application using the name that matches your Aadhaar and other main IDs, and prepare a
Since you are a candidate in the first year of a BSc course, your qualification code in NEET UG is 02. You can check the NEET UG qualification codes before starting the registration process.
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